EU’s Juncker: Easier to Work With Presidents in Second Term

SINGAPORE–Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the Euro Group, said Wednesday that it was generally easier to work with U.S. Presidents in their second term since re-election gives them an opportunity to take a better look at relations with the rest of the world.

Mr. Juncker spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Singapore as President Barack Obama was headed for victory half a world away.

“I do think independent from the persons involved, it’s always easier to establish a closer work relationship with the U.S. President when he’s starting his second mandate,” Mr. Juncker said. “During his first mandate the President is normally focusing on turbulent domestic issues.”

Advertisement

The veteran politician from Luxembourg cited former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, whom he said was “far more Europe-friendly” in his second term, and George Bush, who was “really willing to improve the quality of U.S.-European relations.”

Mr. Juncker, who presides over the group of finance ministers that use the European Union’s common currency, said he was taking no sides in the election.

But separately, he made a prediction on the most European issue most likely to trouble the U.S. leader — the unresolved euro crisis. Mr. Juncker said he expected some European nations to contract in the fourth quarter.

“I’m not optimistic as far as the growth prospects of the euro area and the European Union as a whole for this year is concerned,” Mr. Juncker said.

About Southeast Asia Real Time

Indonesia Real Time provides analysis and insight into the region, which includes Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. Contact the editors at SEAsia@wsj.com.

E-commerce sites and mobile apps are drawing on data they’ve collected from users to better understand how and when people shop during the Islamic holy month. Here’s a look at some of what they’ve discovered.

All that burning rubbish in Indonesia may be taking its toll, with nearly a quarter of people surveyed in a recent poll saying waste management was the most prominent environmental issue in the country.